BA-owner calls for COVID health passes after record $9b loss

British Airways-owner IAG is counting on digital health passes to help spur a travel recovery this summer, after the pandemic pushed it to a record E7.4b loss last year, when it ran just a third of normal flights. European airlines hope travel restrictions will soon be eased to allow them to make money again. Britain on Monday laid out plans for travel markets to possibly reopen from mid-May, prompting a flood of bookings. IAG CE Luis Gallego said if the UK plans went ahead, it would be a “positive summer”, but digital health passes were needed to unlock the market. “Health passes are going to be the key to restart the aviation and the travel,” said Gallego, who is six months into the job, calling for a digital system that could include test results and proof of vaccination. Several countries are considering health passports to help revive travel, but are worried about risks to civil liberties. However, Britain’s Heathrow airport warned this week that dealing with a big rise in passengers would not be possible with current paper-based checks.<br/>